Clarence S. Hebda

Clarence S. “Clancy” Hebda died March 30 at McClelland Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, AR. He was 92. A longtime newspaperman Hebda, along with his wife Mary Ann, owned and operated the Nance County Journal newspaper in Fullerton, NE, of which he was editor and publisher for almost three decades.

Born Jan. 23, 1930, to Steve and Frances Hebda in Nance County, NE, Hebda was educated in Fullerton Public Schools, graduating in 1946. He entered the U.S. Navy serving as a gunner’s mate aboard the USS Henrico, a troop transport in the Pacific, before being honorably discharged from active duty in 1951.

He returned to central Nebraska where he married Mary Ann (Krzycki), April 7, 1951, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Krakow, NE. In 1961, Hebda purchased the Nance County Journal weekly newspaper and commercial printing operation, at which he had been employed, from W.H. Plourd.

During his career, some of Hebda’s professional accomplishments included serving as president of the Nebraska Press Association in 1974. Through the NPA, he was also awarded the Golden Pica Pole in 1999, Master Editor Publisher in 2003, and was inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014.

Hebda was equally committed to local service organizations and their causes advancing the health and vitality of his hometown. Through the years, he served as a member of the Fullerton Volunteer Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and various activities of St. Peter Catholic Church, his home parish. He also ultimately became a lifetime member of the VFW and Knights of Columbus.

An outspoken advocate for individuals with physical and mental disabilities, he served on the Nebraska Governor's Committee of Employment of the Handicapped and assisted fundraising efforts for Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children in Waverly, NE, for many years.

Following the sale of the business in 1990, Hebda stepped into retirement during which time the couple travelled the world, ultimately visiting nearly 25 countries in Europe, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia and Asia. They moved to Lincoln, NE, in 1995 where they were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and he served as an usher. In 2017, the couple moved to Little Rock, AR, where they were members of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church there. Since 2019, Hebda had resided at the Arkansas State Veterans Home in North Little Rock, AR.

Though the scenery of his life changed, his passion for reading, Scrabble, pinochle, Cornhusker football, golf (into his 80s) and his family never did.

Hebda is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of Little Rock, AR; five daughters, Diane Bechtold of Margate, NJ; Dorene (Leonard) Logan of Vinita, OK; Debra (Jeff) Leth of Colorado Springs, CO; Donna Hebda of Vinita, OK and DaNell Mulvey of New York, NY; one son, Dwain (Darlene) Hebda of Little Rock, AR; a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Betty (Kryzcki) Hebda of Silver Creek, NE; 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Evangeline and Lowell Nesbitt, formerly of Imperial, NE.

A Rosary for Clarence will be held May 14, 2022, at 10:30 AM, at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church. 1003 North Tyler St, Little Rock, AR. Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM, at Our Lady of the Holy Souls. Interment with military honors will be held Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM, at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. 6700 S. 14th St, Lincoln, NE. Please meet at Gate 2 of the cemetery, 15 minutes prior, for a procession back to the gravesite. Full Military Honors provided by the United States Navy and the American Legion Post #3.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Nebraska Press Foundation, 845 "S" Street, Lincoln, NE, 68508 (nebpress.com), or Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children, 7205 N 112th Street, Waverly, NE 68462 (villamarieschool.com).